Chapter 166: Good Acting, Both of You

In front of the Goryeo Hotel, numerous media outlets, including newspapers and broadcasting companies, had gathered.

“So, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. The desk was in a frenzy, insisting I come here quickly. Does anyone have any clue?”

Reporters from various outlets exchanged New Year greetings as they began sharing any information they had.

But no journalist really knew what was happening.

“It’s the first press conference of the new year… It could either be amazing or disastrous.”

“I’m curious about the content. From the desk’s insistence, it seems like a big deal, doesn’t it?”

In contrast, a few reporters who already knew about the event stayed quietly apart, inspecting their cameras as they awaited the main speaker.

The raucous lobby of the Goryeo Hotel fell silent in an instant at the protagonist’s arrival.

Lee Myeong-su stood confidently at the prepared podium.

‘Phew… No matter how many times I hold a press conference, I still get nervous.’

His expression was calm, but he was extremely tense, sweating from the pressure of standing before so many people.

“Wait, isn’t that Prosecutor Lee Myeong-su?”

“What’s he doing holding a press conference here and not at the Prosecutor’s Office?”

The previously quiet conference hall was once again filled with reporters’ voices, buzzing with confusion.

Ignoring the questions plastered on reporters’ faces, Lee Myeong-su took a deep breath.

“Ah, can you all hear me?”

After checking the microphone with a gentle tap, he continued.

“I am Lee Myeong-su, a prosecutor of the Republic of Korea.”

Just by introducing himself, the sound of camera flashes erupted, filling the lobby.

“I struggled with a lot of thoughts before standing here today.”

He said this and slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

He looked as though he was submerged in deep thought.

“When I passed the bar exam and became a prosecutor, I felt I had the world in my hands. I genuinely thought I could finally be the fair and just prosecutor I always dreamed of since childhood.”

He then began recounting his journey from when he was appointed as a prosecutor.

“…However, that wasn’t the reality. The title of prosecutor must embody fear for the guilty and trust for the innocent. But I failed to do that. Under orders from above, I had no choice but to conduct selective investigations.”

Lee Myeong-su’s words carried weight.

He subtly implied negative sentiments toward a prosecution that prioritized appeasing high-ranking officials over lawful investigation.

It was a statement poised to indirectly criticize the prosecution itself.

“The bribery case involving Kim Joong-geun was an investigation I conducted quietly and privately, without reporting to my superiors. I knew that reporting it would get me immediately sidelined from the case.”

As he spoke calmly, his voice started to tremble slightly.

It was a glimpse of the humanity behind a prosecutor who appeared self-righteous against the pressures of authority.

“There was clear evidence of bribery, and I had ample proof. But the barriers of reality were simply too high. I painfully felt how difficult it is for a mere prosecutor to investigate existing power.”

Having said that, Lee Myeong-su paused and looked around at the reporters.

His head slowly moved as if he were imprinting the faces of the journalists gathered in the conference room into his memory.

“From the moment I sent a subpoena for Kim Joong-geun, I was under surveillance. I was bombarded with calls from people trying to pressure me; I could barely maintain a normal life. After I refused to halt the investigation, I was pushed to a lowly position.”

Lee Myeong-su pulled out a recorder and pressed play.

— Hey, Lee Myeong-su! Do you really want to die? Stop the case!

— But, Deputy Prosecutor. The evidence is irrefutable.

— I’m saying this because I’m worried about you. Drop the case.

— I can’t do that. No, I refuse.

— From the Prosecutor General to the Chief, everyone’s calling to send you to Jeju Island. Are you trying to ruin your career? You’ve been following the elite course, so why suddenly deviate?

— Deputy Prosecutor, no, Senior. If prosecutors start doing selective investigations, whom will the public trust, and how will they clear their grievances? Those in power need to be held to stricter standards.

— …You’ll get assigned to a different case soon. Transfer the case to Chief Prosecutor So and lay low. This is the decision made by the Prosecutor General. I’m sorry.

— Deputy Prosecutor!

The recording ended with Lee Myeong-su’s desperate shout.

As he lowered the hand that was holding the recorder so the reporters could capture a clearer shot, he continued with another explosive statement.

“On top of that, I faced relentless pressure from above. ‘Investigate those in power at your own peril. Just make it look good and cover it up,’ everyone who sought to pressure me said…”

Casting his gaze on the reporters with a trail of unfinished thoughts, Lee Myeong-su prepared to deliver his concluding remarks.

“As a prosecutor, I cannot accept the prosecution’s failure to remain politically neutral and its role as a handmaiden to power, conducting selective investigations. If that’s the case, I would rather step away from being a prosecutor and return to the common folk.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Oh Hyeon-woo, along with elite prosecutors from the Special Investigations Division of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, burst into the conference hall.

The scene of them dragging Lee Myeong-su away, as if he still had more to say, was captured by cameras.

It marked the climax of the press conference.

Everything that transpired in the hall was broadcast nationwide, precisely according to Kim Mu-hyeok’s plan.

* * *

I smiled as I watched a resigned-looking Myeong-su being led away by the prosecutors on TV.

“They’re really good actors, both of them.”

Even after Myeong-su left, the chaotic press conference continued to air on television.

I exchanged glances with Manager Ma, who was watching with me.

“Go ahead, Boss, what’s on your mind?”

“What’s the update on Chairman Lee?”

“The presidents of the construction, cement, and service sectors have already been detained, and a large-scale investigation is underway.”

“That’s going to hit hard. It must be chaotic internally as well.”

“It certainly appears that way.”

Despite disguising itself as a company, it was merely an organized crime syndicate.

People closer to violence than the law, and those who feel more comfortable with illegal activities. Without political patronage, they could be dismantled at any moment.

“Let’s hold off on intervening for the time being and just watch.”

“Understood.”

“How’s that order I gave you going?”

“I received word that it was handled well.”

“Now, all the attention will likely be on Kim Joong-geun. Let’s settle as many issues as we can during this opportunity.”

“Got it.”

There was a backlash against selective investigations within both the political and prosecutorial circles.

News reports from media outlets, starting with the Goryeo Daily, flooded in.

Even pro-Japanese media had no choice but to cover stories related to this press conference.

As expected, Lee Myeong-su’s press conference devoured everything in its path.

— We must thoroughly investigate the power-related corruption under the Kim Hak-gwon government. If the Special Investigations Division of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office can’t handle it, we must establish a special investigation team to penalize anyone involved.

Yoon Chang-ho, the chairman of the Moderate Party, quickly gathered reporters following the press conference to criticize the situation.

Having previously served as the Prosecutor General, Yoon Chang-ho’s words carried added weight.

Thanks to his swift preemption of the issue, his comments were continuously highlighted in various media outlets.

The Conservative Party, while also voicing strong criticism, garnered little attention due to the delay.

As planned, Myeong-su removed his prosecutor’s attire and headed to Busan.

Both the Moderate Party and the Conservative Party reached out to Myeong-su, who had become a figure of tragedy.

However, taking a step into the political arena at this moment might lead to misunderstandings of political showmanship.

“Take a couple of months off and rest.”

— That’s a good idea. But aren’t the reporters going a bit too far?

“Asung Ilbo?”

— Yeah, the little thugs are even digging up dirt on my father, who’s staying quiet, and publishing negative articles.

“Well, given the sentiment, that’s to be expected. I informed my father beforehand.”

— Ha…

Continuously, the Asung Ilbo ran articles targeting Myeong-su’s father, who owned nightclubs and entertainment venues in Busan.

They seemed determined to associate Myeong-su with organized crime, tax evasion, and various negative images, but public sentiment reacted against such articles.

A prosecutor who stood against power.

A prosecutor who investigated the living powers for justice.

Once an image has lodged itself in the public’s mind, it’s not easily erased.

“Stay out of trouble and rest in Busan. Assume that every single action of yours is being monitored.”

— Phew… I understand what you mean. I’ll just take hikes to relax.

“Exactly. Prepare to join a political party soon, as the nominating season is approaching.”

— Got it.

As the media began attacking the Kim Hak-gwon government, dissent over selective investigations surfaced within the Progressive Party as well.

Ultimately, President Kim Hak-gwon discarded his own son.

Centered around the head of the Special Investigations Division, Oh Hyeon-woo and elite prosecutors related to the case latched onto the Kim Joong-geun incident.

While the Special Investigations Division personnel, led by Il-sung scholarship recipieents, aimed to downplay the case, Oh Hyeon-woo continuously engaged with the media to leak information.

But they were in no position to touch Oh Hyeon-woo, the yellow-robed prince of the legal community. The prosecution had no choice but to detain Kim Joong-geun.

Time sped by, and about two months passed.

After resting sufficiently, Myeong-su announced his intention to run in the upcoming legislative elections during a press conference and joined the Moderate Party.

The Progressive Party vehemently criticized Myeong-su’s moves, but the public welcomed him.

And then, the IT bubble that engulfed the world reached its peak.

It was finally time to put into action the plans I had been contemplating.

“Eva.”

“Yes?”

“From tomorrow, I want you to go back and forth between Japan and Hong Kong to create new products.”

“Boss, are you really going to do what we talked about last time?”

I nodded at Eva’s inquiry.

Her expression carried a hint of anxiety as she looked at me.

“You know about the Tiger Fund liquidation, don’t you, Boss?”

Julia Robertson, founder of the Tiger Fund.

Since 1999, Robertson had warned about the abnormal dot-com bubble.

While everyone was buying IT-related stocks, she kept betting against the downturn.

But no matter how much she shorted, she couldn’t handle the rising Nasdaq, and her funds went from $22 billion to $6.5 billion.

Ultimately, the legendary Tiger Fund faded into history.

“I know. Many people scoffed, but I believe Robertson was right.”

Investors who maintained short positions, believing it was a bubble, ended up buying back stocks to close their positions, further exacerbating the rise.

However, this time, the story would be different.

“Make as many contracts as possible in every capacity they can take on.”

“Of course they will, but the terms are absurd.”

“Especially for Japanese securities firms, don’t go easy on them.”

Adding coldly, Eva smiled slightly and quickly organized the situation.

“I’ll do Hong Kong directly through Peregrine… I’ll take care of Japan. James will handle the U.S. and Europe, right?”

“Right. I’ll manage things here in Korea, so focus there for now.”

“Okay, Boss.”

The exact timing of the stock market crash remains uncertain.

However, after beginning to decline in the early 2000s, the Nasdaq ultimately plummeted nearly 70% from its peak, culminating in the September 11 attacks in 2001.

None of the economic experts in Wall Street foresaw that the market would drop more than 50% in such a short period.

While some believed the market was overheated, the prevailing opinion on Wall Street was that it would steadily rise after a period of adjustment.

The issue was whether there were any securities firms or investors willing to accept options and futures contracts with the conditions I desired.

“Get as much as you can dictate to investment banks and securities firms, even if it means increasing the premium.”

“I’ll do it if you say so, but… If it doesn’t go according to your expectations, the losses will be staggering.”

“It’s fine, Eva. I’m convinced.”

Options and futures are products traded exclusively on organized exchanges, but a far bigger market is known as forward contracts performed over-the-counter.

Forward contracts are agreements between parties to establish transaction conditions, which are not registered with the exchange.

If both parties can reach a mutually satisfying agreement, they could potentially achieve profits that dwarf those from products traded on the exchange.

However, the opposite scenario could lead to devastating losses, making it a double-edged sword.

“Yeah. Whatever you want, Boss.”

With my firm statement, Eva finally nodded.

I could speak confidently because I knew the future, but I also had faith that Han Gyeong-yeong and Eva would secure as many contracts as possible.

“When you return, let’s grab a drink together.”

“It’s a promise, Boss!”

Eva waved at me with a grin as she stepped out of the office.

* * *

After a relentless investigation, Kim Joong-geun was arrested.

The subsequent approval ratings revealed significant disparities.

The Moderate Party was at 42%, the Progressive Party at 32%, and the Conservative Party at 26%.

Among them, the Moderate Party showed strength in Seoul, its surrounding metropolitan area, as well as Chungcheong-do and Gangwon-do.

Laughter from the chairman’s office constantly echoed as Yoon Chang-ho enjoyed his victory.

“Myeong-su, this is all thanks to you.”

“It’s nothing, Chairman.”

“No, it’s not. Our ratings were stuck for ages, but thanks to you, we finally surpassed the Progressive Party, and that’s impressive for a party that’s only one year old.”

Instead of replying, Lee Myeong-su simply smiled awkwardly.

Yoon Chang-ho was fond of his response.

“If you want to become a politician, you need to show a bit more shamelessness. Your emotions are too apparent on your face.”

“I’m sorry.”

At Yoon Chang-ho’s shake of the head, Lee Myeong-su quickly apologized.

“It’s fine. That could be your strength. Don’t feel pressured to change it. But do you really intend to run for a district? You could easily run for a national seat or even be the number one proportional representative.”

If a party holds a certain level of approval, its proportional representatives are a shortcut to becoming a legislator.

“Yes, Chairman. I don’t want to gain a seat as a proportional representative without merit.”

“If that’s how you feel, then fine… But it’s a pity, truly a pity. I wish Myeong-su could help with campaign speeches.”

Yoon Chang-ho promised him the number one proportional representative as he thought about leveraging Lee Myeong-su’s popularity, but Lee Myeong-su staunchly expressed his intention to run for a district election.

Yoon Chang-ho was inwardly disappointed, feeling regret.

With a shy face, Lee Myeong-su added.

“I consulted with Mu-hyeok. He advised to take down a heavyweight while the country is popular.”

“So you chose Gangnam, huh?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

He was taking on Gangnam, a region practically synonymous with the Conservative Party.

“Well, you’re opting for a thorny path instead of an easy one…”

“I see sweet nectar at the end of this thorny path, Chairman.”

Despite having heard Lee Myeong-su’s ambition, Yoon Chang-ho still wore a disappointed expression.

A tragic prosecutor, a hero representing the people.

He decided to trust Kim Mu-hyeok’s arrangement againthis time.

At that moment, Yoon Chang-ho and Lee Myeong-su were engaged in conversation.

Kim Mu-hyeok was flying to Chinaon a private jet.